Highlights of recent policy developments which indicate how Russia is progressing towards the Bogor Goals and key challenges it faces in its efforts to meet the Goals.
In August 2012 Russia became a full-fledged WTO member.Commitments undertaken under the WTO agreements are an important step towards liberalization of trade between Russia and other WTO members and consequently APEC members (WTO members) and achieving the Bogor Goals.
IAP Chapter (and Sub-Chapter and Section Heading, if any) / Improvements made since 2011IAP / Further Improvements Planned
Tariffs / A new version of the Common Customs Tariff of the Customs Union approved by the Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) on July 16, 2012 №54. Tariff reduction was implemented in order to adjust import duties at the level of the Customs Union as a part of Russia’s WTO commitments.
The first stage of the reduction of bound rates for import duties was implemented from July 16, 2012. Starting from September 1, 2013 rates of import duties on 5100 commodity items were reduced in respect of Russia’s WTO commitments. In 2012 – 2013 Russia reduced rates of import duties at the level lower than in its WTO commitments on certain industrial and agricultural products. In respect of an increase of import duties for certain products, tariff was raised to the level allowed by Russia’s commitments to the WTO.
Russia also completed all necessary approval procedures at both national and Customs Union level in order fulfil its WTO commitments under the ITA by September 1, 2013. Therefore, Russia became a party of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) on 16th of September, 2013. / Transitional periods for the liberalization of market access usually account for 2-3 years and for the most sensitive goods 5-7 years. In general, the average weighted rate is to be reduced by 3% from current level until the bound levels agreed in the negotiations of Russia’s accession to the WTO. A similar decrease will be for industrial goods. Regarding the agricultural products and food the reduction will be about 4.4%.
The implementation of the WTO commitments will bring considerable reduction to in-quota and out-of-quota tariff rates for pork.
Website for further information: / Ministry of Economic Development
(Russia, Moscow)
Contact point for further details: / Tamara Zakharova (
Alexandra Karpova ()
Non-Tariff Measures / Import licensing on alcohol and ethanol was abolished in august 2012.
The Unified list of goods subject to mandatory conformity assessment by conformity declaration was amended by the Decisions of the EEC Board of 13.11.2012 № 226. Currently foreign manufacturers have the option to use declarations of conformity based on the CU common form.
10 new technical regulations of the Customs Union were adopted.
Agriculture
The Decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (November 20, 2012 № 229) establishes tariff quotas and the volume of tariff quotas for the import of certain goods by the countries of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space.
The Governmental Regulation of the Russian Federation (December 21, 2012, №1358) defines the licensing mechanism and allocation of meat products volumes.
The Governmental Regulation of the Russian Federation (December 21, 2012, №1359) defines the licensing mechanism and allocation of milk products volumes. / Preparation and adoption of new technical regulations of the Customs Union.
Website for further information: / Ministry of Economic Development
(Russia, Moscow)
Ministry of Agriculture (Russia, Moscow)
Contact point for further details: / Andrei Schegolev ()
Olga Mokina ()
Services / GATS Implementation
Russian legislation in respect of trade in services was brought in conformance with the WTO commitments under GATS. Particular features on market accesswereincluded into the Schedule of Specific Commitmentsof the Russian Federation.
Website for further information:
Contact point for further details:
Investment / For further elimination of excessive administrative barriers and attracting investment in the most problem spheres of state regulation the road maps of the National enterprise initiative (elaborated by the Agency of Strategic Initiatives) were being realized in 2012-2013.
10 roadmaps have already been approved by the Government of the Russian Federation in the following spheres: construction, customs administration, access to power networks, registration of property, registration of enterprises, development of competition, assistance to export, ensuring access of SMEs to government procurement, improvement of the quality of the business environment regulation. By the moment 45% of theplanned measures have been executed (15% of total number of measures approved).
In conformity with the road maps 70 legal acts were adopted in 20120-2013. / To further improve the law of the Russian Federation on foreign investments, the draft Federal Law “On Introducing Amendments to No.57-FZ Federal Law “On the Procedures for Foreign Investments in the Business Entities of Strategic Importance for the National Defense and State Security” of 29th April 2008 was prepared and submitted to the Government of the Russian Federation in 2012. These changes are aimed at eliminating excessive administrative barriers for foreign investors completing transactions with strategic business entities. The draft law has passed the first reading in the State Duma.
Realization of the road maps will allow creatingmore favorable conditions for business activity inthe Russian Federation, and reducing significantly administrative barriers.
Website for further information: / Ministry of Economic Development
(Russia, Moscow)
Contact point for further details: / Kozyreva Elena
Minaeva Natalia
Tsekhmistrenko Natalia
Standards and Conformance / In 2012-2013 the Russian Federation continued implementation of national policies regarding standards and conformity, based on the following principles:
- concept of national standardization system;
- amendments to the Federal Law «On technical regulation»:
- changesrelated tothe conformity assessment of new products;
- application of standardization documents, that the voluntary use ofprovidescompliance withtechnical regulations requirements;
- newrules concerning the registrationof declarations of conformityinthe unified register;
- functions of thenational accreditation body were specified.
The Federal Law “On technical regulation” No.184-FZ of December, 272012 introduced amendments to a number of Federal Laws in this field. The law was aimed at improving standardization at the national
and regional levels: modernization of the standardization procedures (simplification, acceleration); more active involvement of companies in standardization procedures.
International agreements in the frames of cooperation within EASC and the Customs Union were signed.
The Agreements of CU establish the main instruments of the common policy in the following areas:
- harmonization of national legislation in the area of technical regulation,
- development and adoption of technical regulations (TRs) of the CU,
- implementation of common procedure on development of TRs in CU,
- harmonization of standards and implementation of relevant international standards as a basis for the elaboration of TRs,
- implementation of common forms and rules for conformity assessment.
Improvement of the legislative base (law “On standardization in the Russian Federation” is being developed)
Strengthening of the Euro-Asian Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification (EASC); optimization of cooperation in the Customs Union; creatingthe system of permanent monitoring and updating lists of standards for the CU Technical Regulations (TRs) and GOST(set of technical standards maintained by EASC) Development Programs for the CU TRs.
Website for further information: / Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology
(Russia, Moscow)
Ministry of Economic Development
Contact point for further details: / Olga Samoilova ()
Andrei Schegolev ()
Customs Procedures / During 2012-2013 the list of the documents submitted together with the customs declaration was reduced.
According to the order of the Federal Customs Service (FCS) of the Russian Federation of 09.03.11 No. 513 the submission of the transaction certificate in case of export or temporary removal is not required.
In order to establish electronic interdepartmental communication the FCSdeveloped the system of technological cards (further - TCIC), providing the exchange of information by means of electronic services.
The FCS developed 32 TCICs: 31 TCICstogether with 25 interested governmental bodies and 1TCIC together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.
The information system of the customs authorities was modernized, and now provides the possibility toobtain necessary data from other governmental bodies.
The declaration of goods in an electronic form was further developed, (introducing technology of remote release of goods), that means that various customs authorities exercise actual and documentary control.
The results:
- 28 customs posts (centers of electronic declaring) that are responsible only for customs operations in an electronic form;
- a number of orders regulating the procedures of using the automotive information system for declaring in electronic form, introducing the instructions for customs authorities and fixing the list of documents necessary for holding goods.
According to theDecision of the Commission of the Customs Union of 09.12.2011 No. 899 preliminary informing aboutthe goods on the territory of the Customs Union imported by means of motor transport is obligatory since June 17, 2012.
Since October 1, 2014 preliminary informing aboutthe goods on the territory of the Customs Union imported by railtransport isobligatory according to the Decision of the Board of the Eurasian economic commission of 17.09.2013. / The draft of the order of the FCS on non-presentation of the documents confirming the powers of the customs applicantwhile submitting the customs declaration is being prepared.
Further expansion of this practice is connected with the use of the system of the interdepartmental electronic communication and obtaining information onthe existence of allowing documents of other federal executive authorities not from the interested participants of foreign trade activity, but directly from the supervisory authorities responsible for the issue of the documents.
Possibility of customs declaring in an electronic form of the goods placed under:
- special customs procedure;
- customs procedure of destruction according to the chapter 42 of the Customs code of the Customs union;
- customs procedure of refusal in favour of the State in compliance with the chapter 43 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union.
Any customs authorities obtain the possibility to use the documents filed in an electronic form..
Improvement of placement and work of customs authorities, including the possibility declaref goods at the customs posts (centres of electronic declaring).
Introducing amendments to the normative acts of the Customs Union dealing with declaring of goods in an electronic form.
New edition of the Agreement on submission and cancellation of preliminary informingaboutgoods and vehicles moved through the territory of the Customs Union is prepared (St. Petersburg, May 21, 2010):
- provides the possibility to submit preliminary information not only on goods, but also on supplies, passengers, crew being onboard;
- expands the list of cases when preliminary information is not required;
- provides the possibility to submit preliminary information on departure of goods and vehicles;
- fixes unified formats and structures in all participating countries of the Customs Union.
Work on introduction of obligatory preliminary informing aboutthe goods on the territory of the Customs Union imported by air is carried out.
Experience in giving and use of preliminary information on the goods on territory of the Customs unionimported by sea (river) transport is acquired.
Website for further information:
Contact point for further details:
Intellectual Property Rights / TRIPS implementation:
The Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 15, 2011 No. 781 “On amending the Statute on patent fees and other fees for legally significant acts related to patents for inventions, utility models and industrial designs, state registration of trademarks and service marks, state registration and granting of exclusive rights to the appellation of origins, as well as to state registration of transfers of exclusive rights to other persons and of the contracts of disposal of such rights” came into force since the date of accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO. Under the Decree the notions of “resident” and “non-resident” are excluded from the abovementioned Statute.
Ensuring the granting of IP rights:
On February 1, 2012 the pilot PCT-PPH project between Rospatent and the Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO) has been launched.
On July 1, 2012 the pilot PCT-PPH project between Rospatent and the State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC (SIPO) has been launched.
On May 16, 2013, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Machine Translation between Rospatent and the European Patent Office (the EPO) was signed.
On January, 2013, the joint project of Rospatent and the Office for Harmonization on Internal Market (OHIm) “Modernization of the IPR System in the Russian Federation” has been launched in the framework of the EU-Russia initiative “Partnership for Modernization”. The project covers: legal comparison of Russian and EU trademark and design legislation; trademark and design examination guidelines; quality management and IT processes for trademark and design prosecution; modernization and alignment of appeal procedures (trademarks and designs); integration of trademark and design data in publicly accessible web-based databases.
Enforcement of IP rights:
On March 3, 2012 the draft Federal Law No 47538-6 “On amending Part I, II, III and IV of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation and certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” was introduced for consideration to the State Duma. According to the draft Federal Law certain amendments will be introduced to the Part IV of the Civil Code of the Russian Federationconcerning more effective enforcement of IP rights.
According to the Decree of the Plenum of the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation of July 2, 2013 No 51 “On launching the Intellectual Property Court” as of July 3, 2013 the Intellectual Property Court started to function. / Due to a number of changes in the procedure of providing public services in the Russian Federation, substantial amendments are introduced to the Administrative Regulations, designed to define the functions of the federal executive authority responsible for intellectual property.
In January 2014 the pilot program Global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) will be launched. Participants: Australia (IP Australia), Canada (CIPO), Danmark (DKPTO), Finland (NBPR), Japan (JPO), Korea (KIPO), Norway (NIPO), Portugal (INPI), Russia (Rospatent), Spain (SPTO), Great Britain (UKIPO), the USA (USPTO) and Nordic Patetent Institute (NPI).
In order to implement Agreements that establish legal framework of the Common economic space of Republic of Byelorussia, Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation there should be reached an agreement on the Treaty on trademarks, service marks and the appellation of origin on the territory of member states of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space and the Instruction to this Treaty as well as the Treaty on coordinating activities on the intellectual property rights enforcement.
Website for further information: /
Contact point for further details: / Ms. Anastasia GRIBANOVA
Competition Policy / 1. In 2012 a number of strategic documents were drafted and adopted that shape the work of Russia’s antimonopoly authority for a long-term period. Such documents include the Road Map on “Developing Competition and Improving the Antimonopoly Policy” (approved by No.2579-r Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 28, 2012) and several industry-specific Road Maps that contain measures aimed at developing competition in particular industries.
In 2012, the Government Commission on Competition and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises was formed to coordinate efforts of executive bodies and interact with business community to develop proposals on national competition policy.
The competition policy in the tourist and education spheres is regulated by: the Federal Law No. 47-FZ “On Introducing Changes to the Federal Law “On the Fundamental Principles of Tourist Activities in the Russian Federation” adopted in 2012. (the Act incorporates the main proposals on improving the law on tourism in the part of protecting competition in this field) and the Federal Law No. 273-FZ “On Education in the Russian Federation” adopted in 2012.
Energy
Amendments to the Federal law on competition protection, July 2006, 26 that came into legal force in January 2012. The amendments specified requirements to the market price formation during stock trading. Implementation and performance of these requirements will provide creation of object oil products market indicators.
SMEs
The activities on promotion of competition in 2013:
a) the federal execution bodies received competition development functions by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation № 685 of August 9, 2013 to promote competition in the sectors of the economy;
b) the rules of preparation ofthe annual report on the state of competition were approved taking in account the opinion of business community concerning the evaluation of competition conditions, it determines mandatory attraction of business community to the preparation of the report;
c) the Method of assessing performance indicators of the Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the field of competition was approved in order to evaluate the efficiency of the Federal Antimonopoly Service functioning;
d) the Standard of competition development was introduced to create the systematic and uniform method of promoting competition in the regions;
e) the draft amendment to the federal law «On Protection of Competition», in the part of abolishing the notification procedure for deals in the context of the economic concentration. / A new Federal law project that providing the right to export liquid natural gasfrom the Russian Federation to concrete consumers that will stimulate investing in the sphere of natural gas downstream and upstream.
Organization of gas stock trading:creatingnecessary conditions forequal access of all market players to the gas organized trading and providingindependent control over the trading.
Further implementation of the actions fixed in the Road Map, including the introduction of a standard of competition development in five regions of the Russian Federation in 2014, in 83 regions - in 2015. The Road Map will be updated in October 2014.